In December 2013, representatives from The Techs visited the CCAC CPT class to inform students about current employment opportunities at three different plant locations in Pittsburgh.  A special intake test session was offered by the company for both Mechatronics and CPT students in December 2013 and 11 students signed up and completed testing.  In March 2014, two students interviewed for the Material Handler position. From this testing session they hired one individual,  Zack Kuzma who was working part time at Giant Eagle grocery store (not unemployed but certainly underemployed) and he started in April 2014. Zack is still employed by The Techs and really loves his job and the fact that it is full time with benefits. 

Without his CPT certification, Zack said he would not have had the opportunity to test and be hired by The Techs.  Stephanie was hired by The Techs in January 2015 also as a material handler.  She was an unemployed iron worker who was having no luck finding a job.  Not only has The Techs hired Zack and Stephanie they have also sent approximately 8 of their current employees to take the Mechatronics program. Both Zack and Stephanie are very happy at the Techs and even got a chance to meet President Obama and Vice President Biden."

To view the full MSSC photo gallery, please click here. President's visit to MSSC assessment center.
 

Participants in the Florida TRADE "boot camp" spend just over three weeks in class, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

During those three weeks, participants also take the assessments required to earn the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council's Certified Production Technician (CPT) certification and the OSHA-30 Industrial Safety certification, which validates training on the recognition, avoidance, abatement and prevention of safety and health hazards in workplaces.

Please click here for the full Polk State article.

Thanks in part to a grant from the Michigan Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing, as many as 20 Lansing Community College (LCC) students will receive production technician certification through hands-on and classroom exercises beginning July 7 at LCC's West Campus.

Students who complete the free six-week program will receive two college credits, an OSHA 10 card confirming 10 hours of completed safety training, as well as CPR certification, Garcia said. The manufacturing program also helps employers who benefit from a deeper pool of local talent, said Steve Willobee, chief operating officer of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, or LEAP.

The Certified Production Technician (CPT) program runs from July 7-August 18 and includes four sessions preparing students for front-line work. The course is open to 20 students and those who finish will receive their certification from the MSSC, a nationally recognized non-profit focusing on workplace training. A post-course job fair with local employers is also planned as part of the pilot program.

Please click here for the full Lansing State Journal article.

"Indiana's workforce requires middle-skill career training, which is the outcome of MSSC-certified employees," said Ivy Tech Community College President Thomas J. Snyder.

"With valuable MSSC certifications in hand, we are arming our students with the skillset and knowledge to get jobs and contribute to our state's workforce."

Please click here for the full Ivy Tech article.